Cabinet and extensible top therefor



Dec. 27, 1932. s B HUTTON 1,891,986

CABINET AND EXTENSIBLE TOP THEREFOR Filed Jan. 26, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l/i I 2 f TL TL men or W SBHwzfaz I I I B Z kg M y Dec. 27, 1932. 5 B,HUTTON 1,891,986

CABINET AND EXTENISIBLE TOP THEREFOR Filed Jan. 26, 1932 3 Sheets-5heet2 Dec. 27, 1932. s. B. HUTTOILJ 1,891,986

CABINET AND EXTENSIBLE TOP THEREFOR Filed Jan. 26, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3i I Invenlor i a 5 356702%) Q m m flllorney Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITESTATES PATENT FFl -Q'E SAM B. BUTTON, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR-TO EASTERN CABINET COMI- PANY, F TRENTGN, NEW JERSEY CABINET ANDEXTENSIBLE TOP THEREFOR Application filed January 26, 1932.

This invention relates broadly to furniture, having particular referenceto a cabinet and more particularly to an extensible top for the cabinetwhereby the latter may also be used conveniently as a table.

Further, in accordance with the present invention an extensible top isprovided for use with cabinets, tables, and similar articles offurniture.

The invention together with its numerous objects and advantages will bebest under stood from the following description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a cabinet and top thereforembodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof two positions of the tabletop being suggested.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line3-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the cabinet with the top removed.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 55of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, except that the table top isshown extended.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 77of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of one leaf of the table top.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional View taken substantially on the line 99of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a guide cleat.

lVith reference more in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that 10designates generally a cabinet, the same being substantially ofconventional construction and being provided with suitable drawers andcompartments as suggested, and is preferably of the shape andconstruction shown generally in the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention the cabinet 10 is characterized bya top frame 11 the front and side members of which are connected byrelatively spaced transverse bars 12 to the outer sides of which aresecured longitudinally extending guide rails 13.

Serial No. 588,998.

My improved top, designated generally by the reference character 1 fcomprises two substantial y identicallv shaped section or leaves 15, 16and each of these leaves has an edge configuration conforminsubstantially to the configuration of the cabinet 10 in cross section,and each leaf is also of suitable dimension so that either may servesingly as a top for the cabinet.

In the present instance one of the leaves, for example the leaf isprovided on the under side thereof with a pair of opposed angle railengaging cleats 17 secured to said leaf or section 15 through the mediumof countersunk screws or other fastening elements 18.

The leaves or sections 15, 16, at corresponding edges thereof arehingedly connected together as at 19, and it will be seen that throughthe medium of the cleats 17 engaging the rails 13 the leaf'15 isconstrained to slide transversely of the cabinet 10, and is securedagainst displacement longitudinally relative to the cabinet and also ina plane perpendicular to the cabinet.

From a study of Figure 4 it willbe noted that the rail engaging cleats17 are secured to the table top section 15 adjacent the hinged edgethereof, and that these cleats 17 are slightly less in length than onehalf the length of the rails 13 whereby the table top section 15 is freeto slide transversely of the cabinet. Normally, the table top section 15is arranged on the frame 11 so as to serve of itself, as a top for thecabinet. When-s0 serving this function, the table top section 15 is inthe position suggested in Figure 5, and the table top section 16 dependsdownwardly therefrom adjacent to and in parals lelism with the rear Wallof the cabinet as is also shown in Figure 5.

To increase the size of the top of the cabinet the section 15' is slidforwardly from the left to the right in Figure 5 whereupon section 16slides over the upper edge of the rear member'of the frame 11 to rest onthe frame coplanar with the section 15'a-s shown in Figure 6. v

The table top section 15 adjacent its transverse center line hasanchored thereto as at 20 a spring latch 21 provided adjacent its freeend with an abutment shoulder 22 and continuing forwardly fro-m theshoulder to provide a cam end 28. For accommodating the shouldered endportion of the latch 21, the table section 15 on its under side isprovided with a slot or recess 24 elongated longitudinally and havingits top wall inclined as shown in Figure 7. Adjacent the deepest end ofthe slot 24 and slightly spaced forwardly thereof the table top section15 is pro- 'vided with a second notch or recess 25 for {accommodatingthe terminal of the spring latch 21.

Adjacent its transverse center line the front member of frame 11 isslightly notched as at 26, and thus it will be seen that as the tablesection or leaf 15 is pulled forwardly, the cam surface 23 rides overthe bottom surface of the notch 26 forcing the shoulder portion of thelatch 21 up into therecess 2 1 and the terminal of the catch up into therecess 25.

When the table section 15 has been pulled forward a sufficient distanceso that the cam portion 23 of the latch has passed entirely through thenotch 26 the latch member 21 because of its inherent resiliency willspring downwardly so that the shoulder 22 will engage the front side ofthe frame 11 as shown in Figure 7.

When the shoulder 22 is thus engaged with the front side of the frame 11the forward end of the angle cleats 17 will be in engagement with therear side of the front member of frame 11 as suggested in Figure 6whereupon the table top 1% in its extended position will be securelyheld against displacement relative to the frame 11 in any and alldirections.

WV hen it is desired to decrease the size of the table top that is tomove the sections back to the position shown in Figure 5 with the section 16 paralleling the rear wall of the cabinet 10, it is necessaryonly to first force the shoulder end 22 and also cam terminal 23 of theshank 21 upwardly into the recesses 24, 25 and the section 15 may thenhe slid rearwardly or from the right to the left in Figure 6 to assumethe position shown in Figure 5.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodimentof the invention it is to be understood that the same has been hereinillustrated and described somewhat in detail only for the purpose ofillustrating a practical embodiment of the invention, and accordingly itis to be understood that I claim all such forms of the invention towhich I am entitled, in view of the requirements of the prior art andthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In combination, a frame including a pair of relatively spacedtransverse rails, a table top comprising a pair of hingedly connectedsections, L-shaped cleats secured to the under side of one of the tabletop sections and engaging said rails, said cleats being in lengthsubstantially half the length of said rails and having abuttingengagement with portions of the frame for restricting transversemovement of said one table top section relative to said frame, a springlatch member secured to the under side of said one table top section andadapted to engage said frame 2. In combination a supporting frame, a

table top supported thereby, interengaging means on the frame and on thetable top for securing the table top on the frame for sliding movementrelative thereto, a latch member formed of spring metal anchored atoneend to the under face of said table top and provided adjacent its freeend with a frame engaging shoulder, and a ca m portion in advance ofsaid shoulder, said table top on its under side being also provided witha pocket for accommodating the shoulder equipped end of said latch andin advance of said pocket with a recess for substantially receiving saidcam; said cam being engageable with the frame upon movement of the tabletop in one direction relative to the frame for causing said shoulderequipped portion of thelatch into the first named pocket until said camhas passed beyond the frame.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SAM B. HUTTON.

